While deaf stars like Marlee Matlin and Howie Seago have boosted American Sign Language (ASL) awareness since the 1980’s, sign language for hearing babies is catching on quickly in Hollywood. Most recently, parents have become inspired by “Meet the Fockers” where Robert DeNiro teaches his grandson to sign things like “more” “eat” and “poop”.
Like De Niro’s character, all parents want to communicate better with their children. A quick look at the celebs who off-screen are literally hands-on parents:
NICOLE RITCHIE
Nicole Ritchie and rocker hubby Joel Madden were prepping baby Sparrow to sign, before he was even born. Madden bought his then-pregnant wife several classic baby prep books including a baby signing book. Looks like the couple took their reading seriously!
DEBRA MESSING
One of primetime’s favorite redheads, “Will and Grace” actress Debra Messing, has trained her son to make signs for everything from diaper change to a change of music.
KIMORA LEE SIMMONS
Baby signing is fashionable for former supermodel Kimora Lee Simmons. Her added motivation to signing with her son Kenzo is to raise a polite child. “It helps with communication so you don’t have screaming crazy kids,” she has said in an interview.
Hollywood is a huge fan of the fact that while babies typically begin to talk between 12-15 months, research says they can grasp sign language as young as six months of age. Will Brangelina get the memo?
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